Beauty timeline through the ages for wedding guests

Looking good makes you presentable and more confident with yourself. It’s no secret that all women want to look their best, and be beautiful, inside out – especially at the weddings they attend. You get short-term gains for temporary, occasion-based treatments. You need to take care of your skin throughout to ensure it looks fab always. Our aim here is to guide you to all the beauty essentials and must-haves you need, at every age. Read on!

TEENAGE DREAMS

Let's face it: being a teen, is hard. With the advent of adulthood, and exploring new things some teenagers often tend to forget the beauty regimes and while others try things that are not meant for their skin. Confusion is something very common, especially for your skin. Here's a quick look to help your teenage daughter avoid this. As a teen, the problems may include acne prone skin, oily T-zones, and dark spots. This can create a major downfall in confidence. Not just the girls-next-door, celebs like Kendall Jenner have said that acne prone skin affected their confidence as well. Being beautiful is all about confidence and grace, and it all starts with beautiful and clear skin.

DO

Cleanse: Cleansing your face is an absolute must for everyone, every single morning and evening, and that includes teens. Choose a facial cleanser formulated for your skin type, concerns, and needs. This will keep the excess oil and acne at bay. Having a clean and clear skin will boost up all the confidence you need.

Maintain a clean touch: It would be nice if cleansing just your face was enough to take care of your skin in totality, but that isn’t quite the case. Make sure everything your skin touches is clean. Face washes can only help to an extent, right? From wiping off your cell phones before picking up to regularly washing your makeup blenders and brushes, keep it clean.

Exfoliate: You need to exfoliate only once or twice a week, using a relatively gentle product. Don't scrub (it won't help with acne or blackheads) and don't over-exfoliate. And don't stop only at your face. Exfoliate your entire body. Remember, beautiful skin is not just about the face. It is about taking care of your entire body.

DON'T

Do facials: There are in numerous salons offering you with facials and massages. Being a teenager, your skin is naturally beautiful and young. Do not opt for facials as they can be harsh on your skin. Opt for a face pack (according to your skin type) twice a week instead.

Sharing beauty products: As teenagers, you tend to have a lot of friends, which is good until it comes down to makeup. Avoid sharing brushes and eye products as it may do you more harm than good. Also, do not try any product, just because your friend did it. Choose according to your skin type and skin needs.

Scrub away pimples: This is the worst mistake any teen can ever do to her skin. Scrubbing away pimples will not only make your skin rough but will leave dark spots and pick marks on your face. Instead, just wash your face regularly and consult a dermatologist, if required.

Beauty essentials

A foaming face wash, enriched with neem, clay or turmeric.

A tinted lip balm

A non-sticky, non-oily moisturizer with SPF 30+

Kajal or kohl

An aloe vera night gel.

ROARING 20S

You're 20s is the time, where you hustle. You hustle for a roaring career, a fun social life and acing those added responsibilities. You are at the peak of your beauty and you need to make sure that amidst this hustle, your glow doesn't fade. From being in a relationship to making big career moves, your skin needs to look it's best. In your 20s, your work is your priority. And giving so much attention to that, one tends to give less attention to skincare and beauty regimes. The major problems you might face are tanning, oily skin, fine lines, dullness, and adult acne, due to stress or overtime hours. Combat them, here's how

DO

Double cleanse: Girl, you need to learn this routine by heart! Double cleansing is super simple: cleanse first using an oil-based cleanser, and then cleanse again using a gel-based cleanser. It ensures all your makeup, dirt and bacteria from the day's work is removed from the skin. You’ll be surprised how much more you can remove with that second cleanse.

Care for your eyes: The skin under your eyes is the most delicate. The fine lines and wrinkles will start under your eyes if you don't invest in hydrating eye creams and gels. We don't want that now, do we? Also an eye and head massage once or twice a month is something you can go for. This will relax you and brighten your under eye circles.

Treat that acne: People say acne is something you experience only during your teens. Not the case. Adult acne is very common in your 20s too. Apart from double cleansing, avoid using soaps and wipes on your entire body. Use an anti-bacterial face wash that contains salicylic acid. You can also go for a regular fruit clean up at your salon.

DON'T

Sleep with your makeup on: Big big mistake. Yes, your 20s are about late night parties and coming home too tired, but don't let this laziness get the best of your skin. If you want to have a spectacular skin, removing your makeup is the key. We’re talking proper double cleansing and not rubbing your face with some wipes!

Drink a lot of alcohol: The occasional glasses of wine and the occasional shots at parties are all good, but in your 20s you need to keep a check on intake. Sounds like we're being a mom doesn't it? But the more alcohol you drink, the more it saps your body, skin, and hair of moisture and enlarges your pores. And not just the drinks, try using minimum alcohol in recipes as well.

Use cheap makeup: Buying cheap makeup, just because you're broke is a big No No. In your 20s you need to go out every day and makeup becomes a daily routine for you. So you have to make sure the products that touch your skin on a daily basis are quality ones. Do not buy products from street vendors or local shops. They give you the illusion of originality but...just the illusion.

Beauty essentials:

Purifying/cleansing foaming gel

Pore cleansing face scrub

Hydrating moisturizer with SPF 50+

Under eye cream enriched with shea butter or aloe vera

Sheet masks and serums

Branded cosmetic products

GRACEFUL 30S

A vibrant career, a successful life, a gorgeous wife or a doting mother (or all), every woman in her 30's is successful in her own way. At this point in your life, your skin needs to glow and radiate its own story. Juggling a busy life with skincare can be a task and but with our help, you can rock the '30 going 13' vibe. Being a busy bee, your 30s can show you a couple of skin problems you cannot ignore. The most common ones are fine lines and wrinkles, dry and patchy skin with spots and large pores. Also, the dullness needs to be tackled. Follow these

DO:

Face down: In your 30s, the skin starts getting saggy and combating that is your major goal. Whenever you are applying moisturizer or sunscreen, do not skip these zones. Experts say, "To stop making your skin weathered before time, don't stop at your jawline, and don't stop at your neck. Keep. Going. Down. You'll be grateful you did when your neck and your body is firm and beautiful"

Fine-tune the foundation: Foundation will become more useful as you get older. To get a quick, smooth look and to hide the blemishes, the foundation is a must. Choose your foundation wisely. It should match your skin tone and type. Choosing the right foundation will help you masterfully conceal the different kinds of skin issues that arise with time.

Use lighter lotions: It is a good idea to try lighter lotions or serums as thicker anti-ageing creams are usually not necessary and may make the skin more prone to breakouts. Using a lightweight, non-comedogenic product is a great way to start. Do go for regular anti-ageing facials and massages at your salon.

DON’T:

Ignore anti-oxidants: Ignoring anti-oxidants can be a big push into ageing skin. Go for tropical antioxidants vitamin C and E and use them each morning. This will help protect your skin from free radicals and oxidative stress (caused by sun exposure, smoking, etc), which are one of the main contributors to premature skin ageing. Experts suggest trying retinol based eye creams as well.

Skip essential oils: When you hit your 30s, your skin loses its softness, hydration, and springiness. Fear not. All these can be easily tackled by a good face oil. Try the fatty acid rich and non-greasy ones. And do we need to say again? Don't forget the neck. And why just the face. Choose body oils to massage every alternate day as well.

Sugar binge: Yes, cakes and muffins or sugar in any form are our weakness. Avoiding sugar is hard, we know. But we do need to attend to our skin needs. You need to balance your diet and consume more greens and fewer sugars and caffeine! Sugars increase the effects of ageing and can also worsen skin conditions like acne and rosacea as it activates inflammation.

Beauty essentials:

Brightening face scrub.

Vitamin C face serum

Hydrating moisturizer with SPF 50+

Under eye cream enriched with shea butter and avocado oil

A nourishing face mask

Anti-ageing day and night cream.

CLASSIC 40S (AND 40+)

In today's world, 40 is the new 30. Age really is nothing but a number and someone rightly said, "life begins at the 40s". The best part is women in their 40s are confident, and after four decades, know their body well. But keeping your skin healthy and beautiful is a lot of hard work. All you need is to embrace the changes in your skin and find time to analyze certain skin traits. As a woman in her 40s, your biggest issue will be skin ageing. The skin around your face will start having lines and wrinkles and this needs to be tackled, for you to flaunt a flawless and glowing look. Also combating those breakouts and pores can be a task. Don't worry just read on!

DO:

The right skincare: Sticking to your skincare regime is very essential, as your skin needs nourishment and moisturization more than ever. Moisturizing keeps those laugh lines at bay. Also never ever skip the eye cream. As we grow older, the skin under our eyes grow thinner and an eye cream becomes your core beauty product.

Use an anti-ageing night cream: Night creams are your magic beans here. Along with the regular day cream, and anti-ageing cream or serum, it can do wonders for your skin. Wash your face with a mild cleanser and apply a hydrating night cream before you sleep. It is the best way to hydrate your skin while asleep. Who doesn't love waking up to a soft and glowing skin?

Use cream-based makeup: To create a dewy glow, while choosing your foundation or primer, make sure you opt for a cream-based one. With age, as the collagen slows down, the oil does the same. Expert makeup artists suggest using cream-based products like cream blushes and cream highlighters to bring that instant hydration and radiance.

DON’T:

Make makeup errors: We're stressing on the hydrated skin that allows makeup to blend in effortlessly, and reflects light, all of which makes it look younger. Also overdoing your eye makeup is a big no-no. Putting extra coats of mascara and over-defining your bottoms of the eye can make them appear droopy. Instead with an eyeliner, stick to the top lid. You can also consider using shades like chocolate brown instead of black.

Lose sleep: We know life at 40 can be very hectic, but losing your sleep can bring doom for your skin. Literally. It turns out chronic sleep loss can lead to lacklustre skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes. When you don't get enough sleep, the stress hormones are released and they break down skin collagen, which actually keeps your skin smooth and elastic. Doom right?

Powder everywhere: Compact powders are fine for reducing the shine around the nose or the T-zone, but avoid using it on the entire face. It can exaggerate the wrinkles and makes the skin look too dry. Just dab some on your nose and slightly blend into the face. For blushes, stick to rose and pale pink coloured ones. Opting for matte blushes instead of shiny ones is a good idea.

Beauty essentials:

The anti-ageing kit- face wash, cream, serum, and toner. (Preferably of the same brand)

A lip balm enriched with coconut oil or raspberries

Cream-based foundation and primer

Aloe vera infused hydrating gel

Anti-ageing facial kit.

TIPS FOR EVERY AGE

Sun protection: No matter you're 15 or 50, using a sunblock with a high SPF is a must. This is definitely nothing new, but the most crucial aspect of any beauty regime. Nothing can be more harmful to your skin than those rays, so protect your skin girl!

Healthy diet: Following a healthy diet can do wonders for your skin. Stick to green veggies and proteins instead of sugar and caffeine. A little muffin at times is not a big deal, but a proper diet with vitamins is.

Love yourself: Being beautiful is not only about looking good but feeling good as well. Love yourself and be positive at all costs. This love within you will radiate through your flawless skin, no matter what your age.

Exfoliate: You wanna have glowing skin or you wanna get rid of acne scars, no matter the age, exfoliation is your answer to everything. And no, we are not just talking about your face, but the body too. It's amazing to get rid of dead skin, stimulate blood flow and improve your skin's overall appearance.